Theo Walcott might have taken just 20 seconds on Saturday to score Arsenal’s
fastest Premier League goal but the defining moment of this match was to
arrive in virtual slow motion some 87 minutes later.

The ball had dropped to Loïc Rémy on the edge of the area and his powerful curling shot had looked destined for the bottom corner of the goal.

Wojciech Szczesny was even down relatively late but, with his 6ft 5 ins frame at full stretch, he tipped the ball around the post. In one action, Szczesny had secured Arsenal three vital points, from 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers in the race for a top four finish and presented manager Arsène Wenger with a huge selection quandary when they meet Wigan in their penultimate game a week on Tuesday.

“I thought it was in,” said Wenger. “At first, when I saw him dive I thought he would not get there. Rémy took the shot very early and you needed a very great save. It shows the importance of a goalkeeper.”

It also said something for the character of Szczesny. After being dropped for more than a month amid concern over his psychological state, he was then forced to issue a public apology for his father’s claim that Wenger had picked his son when injured and was to blame for his poor form.

Arsenal had also been carefully watching potential new goalkeepers, including Stoke City’s Asmir Begovic, ahead of the summer transfer window.

Szczesny was only given another chance back in the team when Lukasz Fabianski broke his rib and Wenger believes that he has been helped by the jolt of being dropped.

“When he came back he was sharper than when I left him out,” said Wenger. “Our job is to be competitive. That is what you have seen with people like David Seaman and Jens Lehmann. When I took them out, they came back stronger. Wojciech does that well and he’s in a good frame now.”

Wenger, predictably, would not be drawn on whether he will restore Fabianksi. Unusually for Arsenal over recent years, Wenger has two goalkeepers who are in form and do not deserve to be left out.

A more serious concern is actually in attack. Lukas Podolski and Theo Walcott both regularly outline their desire to play in the central striker’s position but, with Olivier Giroud still suspended, this was further evidence that Arsenal are short in that position.

Yes, Walcott’s goal on Saturday was his 20th of the season and further underlined an improvement with his finishing. Podolski, too, is clinical when a chance presents itself but neither player has the all-round movement and touch, particularly with their back to goal, to convince that it is their best position.

“Twenty goals for Theo is a very good return,” said Wenger. “He is more mature in his finishing. He makes good runs and he is calm now in front of goal. I’m certain you remember him when he arrived in front of goal the ball could go anywhere. Now every time he hits the target. That’s why his numbers are so much better.”

On the subject of numbers, Wenger remains confident that a final tally of 73 points will be sufficient to clinch a top-four place although he was acutely aware, just moments before this match kicked off, that Gareth Bale had again rescued Tottenham.

“It is normal that Tottenham win at home against Southampton — I expected that,” he said. Wenger also argued that QPR’s strong performance proved that their problems this season had been largely psychological.

“When they play fearless they are a good team,” he said. “You could see how much the pressure stopped them. If they can keep the team together, they will come up.”

Per Mertesacker, the Arsenal defender, described it as “miracle” that QPR should be relegated so early in the season with so many good players.

Harry Redknapp, the QPR manager, sees things rather differently and claimed that quality rather than attitude had been the problem. Preparations for next season began by personally watching Crystal Palace beat Peterborough on Saturday before heading for Loftus Road.

“With a bit of luck, if I can get some players in, change things around then we’ll give it a good go but it won’t be easy,” said Redknapp.

He is adamant that he had no motivational issues with working back in the Championship. Chairman Tony Fernandes also revealed how Redknapp, who only a year ago was expected to become the next England manager, had taken a pay-cut.

“Money is not everything,” said Redknapp. “I don’t have to go to work really. I do it because I enjoy it and I’d like to build a team that can get back up because I like the people here.”